Arts Team

Bronze Supporter

Key Personnel/Contacts

Principal Directors: Barry Pritchard, Norman Bragg,

Directors: Stewart King, Suzie Bridges, Julian Middleton
Associates: Andrew Monk, Simon Smith,

Company Address

Ivory House
St Katharine Docks
London, E1W 1AT,
UK

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7480 1500
Fax: +44 (0)20 7481 4840
Email: artsteam@rhwl.com
Website: www.artsteam.com

Business Operating Zone

International

Recent Projects

In 2010 Arts Team completed

Grand Canal Theatre, Dublin

Arts Team has collaborated with the internationally renowned architect Daniel Libeskind on the new 2100-seat lyric theatre at the heart of Dublin's docklands.Following their success at Dublin's O2 Arena, LiveNation will operate the much needed theatrical venue which will host large scale musicals, opera, ballet and entertainment events.

LiveNation wanted a feeling of welcome and warmth for the venue. Arts Team proposed a palette of rich reds dramatic house lighting redolent of the glamour of West End and Broadway venues. Team's concept for three tiers with stepping side boxes also gives a sense of intimacy and coherence to the auditorium.

The stage and backstage facilities fulfil LiveNation's brief within the tight constraints of the site. The theatre's generous stage and flytower accommodates the largest of international touring shows.

Backstage is the visiting performers' "home from home". It is welcoming, accessible and spacious. The performers' facilities and resident staff offices are arranged over five floors above stage level, providing dressing rooms for 100 performers in logically planned daylit rooms.

WATERSIDE THEATRE, AYLESBURY

Opening later this year this new landmark entertainment venue will boast a 1,200-seat auditorium, which can be converted to a 1,800 capacity hall. Designed primarily for rock and pop concerts this venue will also be able to cater for ballet, opera and theatre performances.

Other features of the state-of-the-art centre will include foyer areas, bars, box office, and a 225-seat function suite - primarily for meetings and conferences but also designed for uses including exhibitions, screenings, and drama and dance recitals.

Inspiration for the theatre's design has come from the rolling Chilterns hills, woodland and undulating Aylesbury Vale. The heavily accented timber fins reflect the local forests, while the curve of the roof captures the essence of both the hills and meandering canals.

The venue is the cornerstone of the council's wider Waterside regenerative masterplan, which includes residential and retail facilities.

QUEENS'S THEATRE REFURBISHMENT

The Queen's Theatre, originally opened in 1907, was severely damaged in WWII bombings. In the 1950s the theatre was reconstructed by Westwood Partners, with Hugh Casson advising on d�cor.Arts Team have now completed refurbishing and restoring the Queen's - including revitalising the Casson foyer and bar areas. The clean lines of the mid century designs have been brought back to life, all whilst still playing to capacity crowds with the resident show "Les Miserables".

Current Projects

In 2011 Arts Team are designing and overseeing the construction of:

The Guildhall School of Music & Drama at Milton Court

The Guildhall School has had long-term plans to expand it facilities for some time, but with restricted space on its Barbican site these have not been fulfilled - until now.

The City of London, as part of a commercial development agreement with Heron International, has made available an adjacent site at Milton Court. The school is to set to occupy five floors of the podium and basement of a 34-storey residential tower conceived by David Walker Architects.

The focus of the design is a 625-seat highquality concert hall with large public foyers and dedicated backstage facilities. This is the school's principal music room and a recital hall for the Barbican Centre. The remaining space is for the drama and technical theatre departments of the school; comprising a 230-seat proscenium arch drama theatre, 110-seat flexible studio theatre, recording studio, and five rehearsal/teaching studios each with different theatrical and acoustic qualities.

The teaching facilities are arranged around a central atrium at the bottom of which is the student caf� and common room.

NEW PERFORMANCE VENUE, DONCASTER

It is designed as a creative �toolbox', a flexible, responsive contemporary venue for current and future markets, in a changing Doncaster. It includes

a 600 seat fixed format lyric space; a flexible, flat-floor studio for 200 to 400 capacity; a suite of education space including dance studio, drama studio, and three flexible teaching rooms. The foyer has an all day caf�/bar with informal performance and exhibition capability, and is closely connected to backstage facilities.

The venue will deliver professional touring product, and offer extensive workshop, participatory and outreach and community programmes. It will be a vibrant entre for schools and work with young people, and act as a teaching, project and performance resource for Doncaster College, providing professional-level experience in a cutting-edge high street venue.

Watford Colosseum

The venue has always played host to a wide range of professional and amateur performances and civic functions, including classical music concerts, popular performances, comedy, wrestling, banquets and dances. It is well regarded for its fine acoustics and is regularly used as a recording venue. The acoustican was Hope Begenal, who also went on to design Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall and the Royal Festival Hall in London's South Bank.

The Colosseum is very much a performance building of its time - with limited public support spaces. This project refurbishes and extends the building to enhance the audience experience within the hall and to provide much needed foyer and front-of-house facilities.

WATFORD PALACE THEATRE

Arts Team are commissioned to upgrade the exterior of the Watford Palace Theatre. The tehatre is a lovely and energetic venue, with a host of performance, workshops and community projects. However its Edwardian facade has slowly seeped into the background of other buildings and urban ephemera of Clarendon Road over the years. Arts Team are designing new signage and external lighting to rejuvenate the building to reflect the vibrancy of activity within.

Arts Team is an architectural practice specialising in the design of arts and cultural projects. We exist to creat bespoke buildings - our vision is that architecture for the arts must not only look amazing, it must also function amazingly well.

What We Do

Our approach unites design integrity with pragmatism and specialist knowledge.

- We design innovatice, location specific buildings to house the arts

- We create inspirational spaces for performers, audiences and visitors

- We rejuvenate historic buildings, enabling them to meet contemporary needs.

Why we do it

Arts Team is passionate about creating architecture for the arts. We believe:

- Everyone should have an opportunity to enjoy and participate in cultural activity

- Arts and culture enrich our physical environment, stimulating community pride

- Each client and every project is unique - this inspires our creativity

How we work

We have a unique portfolio of skills and sensibilities. This allows us to:

- Define an inspiring vision for a project, and pursue it to the end

- Use inspiration founded in expertise to provide creative solutions

- Lead the way in architectural exploration and innovation

Our defining characteristics

- We build strong relationships with clients

- A belief in team work

- Assurance that ideas are effectively communicated, shared and understood

- Determination in the pursuit of objectives - creating a building to surpass your expectation

Affiliations

RIBA registered practice
Theatres Trust
TMA
ABTT

Awards

RHWL / Arts Team has won over 50 awards and commendations for their buildings for the arts including 12 from the RIBA and 14 from the Civic Trust

OPUS 2010, Architecture and Construction (over �20m catergory) - Grand Canal Theatre, Dublin

In 2007 Arts Team were short listed �Public Building Architect of the Year'

RICS Award 2008, community benefit - Belfast Grand Opera House extension

RICS Award 2008, conservation, commendation - Royal Theatre, Northampton

Building Design 2007 Short list -Public Building Architect of the Year

Civic Trust Award 2006 - London Coliseum

Europa Nostra Award 2006, EU Prize for Cultural Heritage, high commendation - London Coliseum

The Westminster Society Award 2005, refurbishment - London Coliseum

LABC National Built in Quality Award 2005 Public/Community Projects, finalist - London Coliseum

US Institute of Theatre Technology, Honor Award 2004 - Brighton Dome Concert Hall and Corn Exchange

Leisure Property Forum Award 2003, best leisure regeneration - Brighton Dome Concert Hall and Museum & Art Gallery

Sussex Heritage Trust Award 2003, commercial & ind. - Brighton Dome Concert Hall and Museum & Art Gallery

Structural Steel Design Award 2003, commendation - Brighton Dome Concert Hall and Museum & Art Gallery

Civic Trust Award 2003, commendation - Brighton Corn Exchange and Museum & Art Gallery

Civic Trust Award 2001, commendation - ARC Arts Centre

Civic Trust Award 2001, mention - Festival Theatre & Winter Gardens (Malvern)

Civic Trust Award 2000, commendation - Chicken Shed Theatre (phase 2)

Civic Trust Award 2000, contribution to the community - Sadler's Wells Theatre

Islington Access Award 2000 - Sadler's Wells Theatre

Royal Fine Arts Commission 1999, commendation - Sadler's Wells Theatre

Civic Trust Award 1998 - Bridgewater Hall

Civic Trust Award 1998 - Merchant's Bridge

RIBA Award 1998 - Bridgewater Hall

Civic Trust Award 1996, special mention - Chicken Shed Theatre (phase 1)

Civic Trust Award 1995, commendation - The Anvil and The Anvil footbridge

Energy Efficient Building of the Year 1995, business - The Anvil and The Anvil footbridge

Structural Steel Design Award 1995, certificate of merit - The Anvil and The Anvil footbridge

British Construction Industry Award 1994, highly comm. - The Anvil and The Anvil footbridge

RIBA Award 1994, regional - The Anvil and The Anvil footbridge

English Tourist Board 1992, Design Renaissance Award - International Convention Centre (Birmingham)

British Construction Industry Award 1991, highly comm. - International Convention Centre (Birmingham)

Civic Trust Award 1991, commendation - Lyceum Theatre (Sheffield)

RIBA Award 1991, regional, White Rose Award - Lyceum Theatre (Sheffield)

Sheffield Design Award 1991 - Lyceum Theatre (Sheffield)